Red and White Vanilla Valentine’s Day Cupcakes

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl.

Beat butter on high for 30 seconds.

Add sugar and vanilla extract to the butter until well combined.

Add egg whites, and then eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Alternately, add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until everything is mixed.

Divide the batter into two bowls. The first bowl remains white, while in the second bowl, you will add several drops of red gel food coloring.  Stir until the red coloring is well blended throughout the entire bowl of batter.

Place cupcake batter dividers into each of the cupcake liners.

Pour the white or vanilla batter in on one side with the divider in the middle.  Next, pour the red batter onto the other side of the cupcake liner.  Remove the cupcake divider.

Continue repeating the above step until all of the cupcake tins

are filled up to 2/3rds with cake batter.

Bake for 20–25 minutes.

Allow cupcakes to cool in the cupcake pan for 10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Cream the butter and powder sugar until it looks light and creamy.

If it doesn't cream, add the heavy whipping cream a tablespoon or two at a time.

Test to see if the frosting can form and hold a stiff peak by taking a large spoonful and turning the spoon upside down.  If the frosting doesn't fall, it's ready. If the frosting does fall off the spoon, then...

Add more powder sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.

Test to make sure that the frosting can make and hold a stiff peak.

Add more powder sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.

Test to make sure that the frosting can make and hold a stiff peak.